Sydney locals will tell you that spending a day and a night out in the city is not a cheap task. It’s time to plan your summer days around a few Sydney secrets that will keep your friends happy and your wallet full.

Amidst the jumble of cafes and bookstores on Glebe Point Rd you can find the Glebe markets, the perfect place to start your day with a search amongst the bric-a-brac and some seriously yummy food. The stalls are spread over the local public school and guide you on a windy path through handmade jewellery, second hand clothes and original artworks. You can grab a Turkish coffee or homemade lemonade to tide your over until you have picked through the trinkets and clothes, all to the soundtrack of the live bands that set up their instruments in the far corner of the school. It’s the vibe of the place that makes a day at the markets a relaxing start to the weekend.

Soaking up the sun with some live tunes is the best way to enjoy a tasty market lunch.

After you’ve scored a few good finds, it’s best to sprawl out on the grass with a spot of lunch. The yard stick of good market food seems to be the good old Gozleme, which is freshly rolled and fried in record time by the seamless crew behind the stall. If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter to munch on in the sunshine, the salads with vegie balls are a market favourite. This is part one to your cheap and cheerful day in Sydney. It’s best to take your time and enjoy the ambience before moving onto phase two.

As afternoon sets in and the tired stall owners pack away their colourful wares, the next step is an evening drink in the beer garden at the Australian Youth Hotel. The dappled sunlight serves as some cooling relief on a warm day. Sharing a bottle of rose is surprisingly cheap but if you’re more of a beer drinker, there are plenty of on tap ales and lagers to choose from. You can settle in here all afternoon is you want but by dinner time you might want to save a little cash and head out for a cheap feast.

When you’ve spent your day idly wandering from one place to the next, you’ll definitely be woken up with a trip down the road to the outskirts of China Town. Appearances can certainly be deceptive when you’re choosing a place to grab some dumplings with friends but don’t be fooled. The only way you will be able to tell how good Cho Dumpling King is from the outside, is by the line that snakes out the door. While you queue up, send a friend to the bottle shop for some wine and beers before you get ushered over to a group table. It’s best to come prepared with some meals in mind as the service is quick. The soft and sticky fried eggplant is always a hit (especially to soak up some of that afternoon drinking) and obviously a generous few rounds of different dumplings are in order. You’ll be shocked to find that this variable feast will barely cost you more than $10 and it’s some of the best Chinese food Sydney has to offer.

So there you have it. A few new knick knacks to add to your collection, a great summertime pub and deliciously cheap meal to round it all off. Sydney’s perfect day, for a perfect price.